About 7/8 years ago my Aunt, now 94, gave me the marriage certificate of my maternal Great Grandfather and an official communication from the Registrar General Of British Shipping and Seamen, advising that "A. Widau of German nationality was presumed dead, together with the rest of the crew of the vessel Rathdown lost with all hands on voyage from Yokohama, Japan to Tacoma USA on 4th October, 1900".
From these documents I have carried out research into the Widau Family, having made contact with distant relatives in and around Hamburg, Germany. In September, 2000 I was driving off the Harwich to Hamburg ferry when I saw a man with a notice which said "Lewis and Widau". Having been in contact with, but never having seen Jens Widau I knew it was him. This really was a tremendous surprise, meeting the Great Grandson of the brother of my Great Grandfather.
Jens, and another distant relative from Frankfurt, have carried out most of the research and I am collating the information on a computer program. Collectively, we have managed to get back to 1645. There are some missing links and hopefully someone reading this may be able to help with further information. I am willing to share information I have gathered and will, in fact, publish the information through Family Tree Maker.
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